Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-17
Our Farmers and the state Fairs
~ ,bo EJi,or M me Dispatch:

soon as possible.
Our Farmers and the state Fairs.
To The Editor Of the Dispatch:
The Virginia State Agricultural So
ciety. through the efforts OF few men
who are willing to give time and labor
without remuneration to such a cause,
has striyen year after year to keep In,
tact its organization and to hold annual
exhibitions which might result IN good
TO our people generally andthe farmers
ill particular.
The prime object of the society is to
benefit the farming class. ltisan agrl-
cultural society. It labors to group
once a year the latest mechanical appli-
ances looking to economy of labor and
more excellent tillage, &C., that the
farmer may here inspect them and
avail himself of their advantages.
1t also affords the farmer an OPP
portunity of showing to the world
what strides he has made in his voca-
ton. what his land is capable OF pro-
ducing--first, as an advertisement as
TO the value Of his land and. secondly,
by an exhibition of his products to
create a spirit of rivalry which shall
stimulate the young as well as the old
TO more excellent things and higher
cultivation. l do not hesitate to say
that with the limited resources at the
command of the society and the facill-
ties extended the annual displays OF
machinery and implements, OF manu-
featured articles, of cattle and horses,
ETC., have been very creditable. But
what of the farm-produ;ts exhibition
This class for whom the society espe-
cially labors-how far do they show
their appreciation of the work of the
society by their efforts to make these
exhibitions complete, instructive, and
interesting?
Each year after the Fair closes here
come letters from farmers all over the
State that this, that, and the other was
done at the Fair that ought not to have
been done and multitude of things
left undone. 1.-THE committee on
cakes. bread, &C., should have been the
committee on hogs" "Those fellows
with badges were nuisances, and
"Life members haUing paid the
enormous sum Of 800, before the war,
pcrhaps,) ought to be allowed free
entrance to all the 'side shows, to
stand in the middle of the race-track
when from five to ten horses are dash
ing around at full tilt, &c., and all that
sort of stuff.
Now, Just walk over to the farm
product display and what a story is
told there of the earnestness of these
people. With equal sincerity as to the
other exhibits | DO not hesitate to
say that the farm-product displays
have simply been Il farce, an migrate
ful response to the labors OF the men
who would work up the society to the
end for which it is intended. Better
far that we have no such department
than such a show be made. Does not
the farmer realize that here is afforded
an opportunity for him to enhance the
value of his property? In the cities a
man purchases a lot OF uneven,
ugly ground. Before advertising
"for sale" he grades it, has the
grass to cover it, sets out trees
in front OF it. What for 81? Why to
make it sell for better price. Does
farmer mean to say that if at each fair
there were shown products from his
farm indicative of good soil that his
land would not be enhanced in value
thereby? If country would set to
work and get together fine exhibit of
products, as the States do at national
exhibitions, and have them displayed
at our annual State fairs, would not it
attract the hamburger and the stranger
among us? Surely no argument is
needed here. 1t is n plain business
proposition, to say the least. We have
had and are having fine farming sea-
son. What are you going to have at
the next State Fair, farmer? Haven'tyou
a pumpkin or a gourd, stalk of corn
or a cabbage, a turnip or an apple,
sheaf of wheat or a bunch of grass
which you might exhibit ? Suppose it
does cost you twenty-five cents freight
or express to get them here and a little
trouble, won't it pay You? Have you
no pride in your vocation "No."
linen gun YOU Al hC'Si ouCSSS".
You are in the wrongspew. Sell out
and come to the city, where you can be
a "dude ard lice t0ithOU WOrk, but
before you do make one showing at
least of what your land will grow, SO
that You may get the best price. You'll
be apt to need it when you have become
city gCnttCmGa.
] wish | could impress upon the
farmers their duty to themselves, to
their children, to their State in this
matter Of making annual exhibits of
farm products. There is no calculating
how far-reaching the effect will be.
am sure the society will, if necessary,
provide from now on store-p!ace
where such articles will be received and
kept until the Fair, and there they shall
be arranged to the best advantage il the
farmers will only avail themselves of it.
II you can't do better there's a whaling
big hornets nest out there in tue tree.
Send it down, but be sure all the rooms
are rdcdnt. Better have your farm
noted for big hornets nests than for no.
thing. What do you say?
ASHTON SrAERE.